Stanford's three remaining regular-season games are against ranked teams, beginning with Saturday's noon home game against No. 13 Oregon State, one of the nation's most surprising teams.

Cardinal fans should also root for No. 2 Oregon to beat Cal. If No. 16 Stanford gets by the Beavers, the Cardinal's hopes for the Pac-12 North title and a berth in the conference championship game would depend on the Cardinal upsetting the Ducks next week in Eugene. That's a tall order.

But if Oregon finishes unbeaten, including the Civil War game against Oregon State in Corvallis on Nov. 24, it might land a berth in the national championship game in Miami. The Ducks are currently No. 3 in the BCS standings behind Alabama and Kansas State.

So Stanford could still go to the Rose Bowl even if loses to Oregon, as long as it beats everybody else. It would have to finish in the top 14 in the BCS standings - it is currently 14th.

And the Rose Bowl would have to stick to its conference roots and overcome the temptation to take Notre Dame, currently fourth in the BCS. The Irish get an automatic BCS bowl berth as long as they finish eighth or higher.

By the way, the pecking order for Pac-12-affiliated bowls after the Rose Bowl goes like this: Alamo, Holiday, Sun, Las Vegas, Kraft Fight Hunger and New Mexico.

All the Rose Bowl talk for Stanford, of course, probably would fly out the window if it doesn't get by Oregon State. This is an unusual matchup of top-20 teams that have changed quarterbacks recently.

While redshirt freshman Kevin Hogan makes his first start in relief of Josh Nunes, the Beavers will be going with junior Cody Vaz. Sophomore Sean Mannion, the former Foothill-Pleasanton quarterback, started the first four games but injured his knee and underwent surgery.

Vaz led wins in the next two games before Mannion came back against Washington. But he threw four interceptions in a 20-17 loss, so Vaz took over last week against Arizona State and led another win.

Hogan came off the bench to spearhead Stanford's 48-0 rout of Colorado last week. He threw a couple of touchdown passes and was impressive as a runner.

"The boy can sling it, as we saw on Saturday," Stanford linebacker Jarek Lancaster said. "I expect a lot from him in this game coming up."

Hogan had played part-time roles in four of the five previous games, but Colorado was his first extended action. His promotion changed the way the Beavers prepared for Stanford.

"They have the capability of doing more option stuff with him," OSU coach Mike Riley said. "I thought he was very poised as he played a week ago."

The Beavers went 3-9 last year, prompting critics to call for Riley's firing. They were picked in the preseason to finish last in the Pac-12 North. Instead, they have won seven of their first eight games for the first time since 2000.

"They are the quintessential Mike Riley team," Shaw said. "They're efficient. They're not out of position. You don't see them giving up a whole bunch of big plays. Defensively, they run to the ball, they don't break contain. They don't make mistakes."

Stanford and Oregon State have the stingiest defenses in the Pac-12, allowing 16.6 points and 18.1 points per game, respectively. The Cardinal lead the nation in rushing defense (57.8 yards per game), sacks (4.3) and tackles for loss (9.2).

Saturday's game

Who: No. 13 Oregon St. (7-1, 5-1) vs. No. 16 Stanford (7-2, 5-1)

Where: Stanford Stadium

When: noon

TV/Radio: Channel: 2 Channel: 40 / 1050

Story line: Coach David Shaw has cautioned quarterback Kevin Hogan not to try to do too much in his first collegiate start. He faces a defense that's fifth in the nation against the run (91.8-yard average). Both teams harbor Rose Bowl hopes; however, they both still have to play Oregon.

Injuries: Stanford has no significant injures. Jamal-Rashad Patterson will start at WR, although Ty Montgomery is nearly 100 percent after recovering from an injury. Oregon State's standout cornerback and punt returner, Jordan Poyer, and starting RB Storm Woods are back from missing last week's game, both with knee sprains.

What to watch for

-- They've been somewhat under the radar, but Beavers WRs Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton average 211 yards receiving, just 5 yards less than USC's celebrated Marqise Lee and Robert Woods. Wheaton beat Oregon speedster De'Anthony Thomas in the 100 meters at a track meet in the spring.

-- Besides Woods, Stanford's top-ranked run defense will try to stop former De La Salle running back Terron Ward, who had 19 carries for 146 yards and a TD last week against Arizona State.

-- Stanford S Ed Reynolds is one short of the Pac-12 record of four interception returns for touchdowns in a season, and RB Stepfan Taylor is 53 yards from his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season.